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Maricopa County GOP Passes Resolutions Opposing Amnesty, Supporting PAN

By Dennis Durband, Editor

Over the objection of Chairman Tom Liddy, the Executive Guidance Council (EGC) of the Maricopa County Republican Party met in emergency session Wednesday, resulting in the passage of two resolutions related to illegal entry into the United States. The meeting was called by Vice-Chairman Steve Johnson when Liddy refused to convene the EGC. The resolutions were on the Jan. 10th agenda for the Mandatory Meeting of Maricopa County Republican Precinct Committeemen, but were not voted on because that meeting ran long, lost its quorum and the resolutions went untouched.

Several district chairmen were upset with Liddy’s inability to complete the Jan. 10th meeting before people started going home at noon hour. Since a quorum was no longer present, Liddy then closed the meeting. District chairmen and county GOP officers asked Liddy to call an emergency meeting to finish the business left over from the meeting. Liddy refused. Johnson then invoked his right to call an emergency meeting, over Liddy‘s objection.

At Wednesday’s emergency meeting, the EGC passed all three resolutions on the table, including two resolutions related to the border invasion and a transportation resolution.

A resolution opposing amnesty passed by a 13-10 margin, with Liddy in opposition. A resolution in support of the Protect Arizona Now initiative passed 17-4, with two members abstaining -- one of them Liddy.

Discussion on the amnesty bill dealt largely with the issue of whether or not to support President George Bush on his proposed Temporary Worker Program in a year in which he is seeking re-election. The Bush campaign has also targeted Maricopa County as the No. 1 county on its must-win list for November. Despite some county GOP board members’ opposition to guest worker and temporary worker programs, there was some support for not opposing the president.

The amnesty resolution puts Maricopa County GOP on record as declaring, “the current enforcement of our immigration laws having been unsatisfactory, we demand that the federal government enforce all immigration laws, including the hiring of illegal aliens, and that we also hereby voice our opposition to any amnesty program or any guest worker program leading to amnesty.” The resolution was sent to President Bush and to all members of the Arizona congressional delegation. Three congressmen -- Sen. John McCain and representatives Jim Kolbe and Jeff Flake -- are sponsoring a controversial guest worker program.

Protect Arizona Now (PAN) is an initiative that, if placed on Arizona’s election ballots in November, would require proof of citizenship for services. State and national Republican leadership is opposing PAN, but opinion polling consistently shows overwhelming public support for it across political and demographic lines. The disconnect between the party and the people on PAN is startling.

The PAN resolution passed in the emergency session included the following statements:

“There shall be enacted registration and other laws to secure the purity of elections and guard against abuses of the elective franchise.”
" .... The state of Arizona shall guard against the abuse or fraud of our public benefit system.”
“Whereas, 85% of our Constituents support this initiative (KAET TV/ASU Poll), 96% GOPUSA/Arizona poll, PROJECTUSA Poll that was 95% in favor of this initiative, Insight on the News/Insight Magazine 95% supports the PAN Initiative, FrontPage Magazine Poll 95% in favor of Initiative (many others).”
“Therefore, be it resolved that we the Precinct Committeemen of Maricopa County, of the State of Arizona do hereby support the Initiative titled, “The Arizona Taxpayer and Citizen Protection act.”